Dockweiler RHG Diary

[SamKellner]

What is the approval process to fly HG at Dockweiler, RHG ?

[Frank Colver]

Recreational hang gliding is allowed on the days that the Windsports school is closed. At this time those days are Monday and Tuesday.

Required is a liability release filled out by the person wanting to fly and then sending that to the LA County Dept of Beaches and Harbors. They in turn will sign it as authorized and send it back to the pilot. That's all that is needed.

I have put the county's waiver form in my Dropbox. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yultargugyoh ... sW5ja?dl=0 You should be able to download it from there.

Would love to see you at Dockweiler sometime, Sam!

Frank C.

[SamKellner]

Thank You Frank.

[Frank Colver]

Here is a copy of a letter I just sent out to as many HG folks as i have e-addresses for and who I think would be interested. I have also posted it under "HG General".

COPY OF OPEN LETTER:

Hi hang glider folks, from Frank Colver.

I’ve finally put together an e-list of hang glider people, mostly vintage HG oriented, to make a couple of announcements. This first one is about our new ability to fly at Dockweiler Beach without any insurance or private club memberships required.

Through the considerable efforts of Bob Kuczewski with some additional help from Joe Faust and myself, recreational hang gliding is now allowed at the Dockweiler site without needing to belong to USHPA or any other org. The agreement with the LA County Dept., of Beaches and Harbors allows us to fly there (no PG’s) without any liability insurance requirement, on the days when the concessionaire, Windsports Flight School, is closed. At the present time, those days are Monday and Tuesday. The only requirement to fly is a liability waiver signed by the pilot and approved by the LA Dept., of Beaches and Harbors.

I have put the county’s waiver form into my dropbox and you should be able to download it from there. I suggest that any of you who think there is even the slightest possibility that you would someday fly at Dockweiler, under these conditions, download the form to your computer, print it, sign all the places required, and mail it to the LA County Dept., of Beaches and Harbors to the attention of Amir (his name is shown on the form). Here is my Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yultargugyoh ... sW5ja?dl=0

For those of you who are not hang gliding anymore this is an excellent way to enjoy some minimal flying again in perhaps the safest location possible. I got back in 3 years ago and I am now flying there as much as I can at age 82 (close to 83). Joe Faust, Bob K, Ed Vasquez and myself are often there on a Monday or Tuesday and we do let others fly our gliders (with an additional liability release to us, for loan of our equipment). If you plan to come out there, contact one of us to find out if we will be there, especially if you need a glider to fly. I have a Condor 330 and a Condor 225 and I usually bring one or the other depending on the wind forecast. Joe Faust will soon be the new owner of my excellent WW Alpha 210 also.

This is an example of how more flying sites should be opened without an expensive need to join an organization which you may not be able, or want, to join for their insurance. The liability laws of many states now allow land owners to be free of liability for recreational use of their land, if they don’t charge for the use. This is especially true for government agencies which have even greater protections. With this as a start, the hang gliding community needs to work toward opening more sites to truly free recreational hang gliding (like it was in the beginning). This should be a top priority for USHPA!

Please pass this on to anyone you think I should have included, in this mailing.

I hope to see you all at Dockweiler Beach one of these days.

Frank

[Bob Kuczewski]

Great letter Frank!!!

Here are images of the waiver form:

[Bob Kuczewski]

Here are some pictures from November 20th, 2017 that Frank just forwarded from Doug Morgan (cropped and resized to fit):

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Glider_at_Beach.jpg (46.48 KiB) Viewed 7917 times

JoeFaustDockweilerBeach.jpg (47.86 KiB) Viewed 7917 times

Great photos Doug!!!

[JoeF]

Nov. 27 and 28, 2017

Epic day at Dockweiler recreational hang gliding!

The Colver->Faust Alpha 210 was the wing for the day. Over twenty flights each by JoeF and BobK; some first happened.

1. JoeF kited BobK over flat-level sand by just pulling the two front flying lines by hand.
2. Flying while feet were on the ground was robust.
3. Half-step backwards launch to smooth vertical zenithal climb to about 30 ft AGL.
4. Saturated control practice sessions.
5. Launch from lower 25% of mini-slope into firm ridge soaring higher.
6. Excellent cross-slope wind practice.

No crashes or incidents.

Cleared some debris and glass from the site.

Great ocean-wave white-cap day. Windbreakers were worn.

Met Mark (pilot since 1984) and his friend Valerie from Arizona; she is doing some website webmaster work for the local HG concession in trade for Dockweiler HG lessons.

Enjoyed splitting a huge burrito at an El Segundo place. Yum!

We are sharpening some ideas on what could be the future revision of Dockweiler's concession agreement.

Next day we spoke again at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors regarding big thanks as well as a need to positively revise the future of recreational hang gliding at Dockweiler bluffs. There are and will be weekday workers who need recreational hang gliding on weekends; no just concession should prevent such use.

A HG rack by JoeF for his new used HG truck was given a high sign of approval by engineers Frank Colver and Bob Kuczewski. The Alpha 210 in transport is cushioned evenly along its full length without breaks in supportive cushion.

Synergy with Bob and Frank has been spelling good changes in Joe's ways.

We had a tour of Frank's wonder shop: RC center, rafting center, hang glider center, motorcycle center, extensive machine shop for manufacturing things, office, quiet room, flute making, and more. Many neat dimensions to Frank at Colver Engineering! Thanks, Frank, for the tour, sharing, and trusted transfer of the Alpha 210. Frank gave me a CD holding sounds he has formed, collected, and edited. I will be listening and sharing
his art. Thank you, Frank!

The fine ripples in the sand indicated wind direction.
The bikeway became about 50% covered with sand.
BobK gave extensive answerings to a inquisitve walker.

Detail hang glider design items came from the days; such will be
shared soon.

Memorable two days regarding Dockweiler recreational hang gliding!
BobK captured some of the day via camera in cell phone.

[Bob Kuczewski]

It was a super day of flying!!

It started off with Joe picking up his new Alpha from Frank:

Joe_and_His_Alpha.png (265.17 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

Joe_and_Frank_Clowning.png (303.88 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

Joe enjoyed getting to know the Alpha starting from flat ground and moving to the Student Area:

Joe_Soaring_Student_Area.png (260.64 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

Then it was on to the soaring ridge for both of us:

Joe_Soaring_Public_Area.png (229.79 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

Bob_Soaring_Public_Area.png (236.49 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

Several times we were able to launch near the bottom and take the "elevator" up. Here's Joe demonstrating the technique:

backing_up_up_up.gif (1.75 MiB) Viewed 7936 times

up_up_and_away.gif (1.34 MiB) Viewed 7936 times

Did I mention that it was a super day?

[Frank Colver]

If I had been there I might have done my first soaring flight at Dockweiler.

In my ancient past of hang gliding I had soared other bigger sites but never the little 25' ridge at Dockweiler.

Glad that Joe initiated my former Alpha 210 this way, on his first day as the new owner. I wonder how my Condor 225 would have done that day? It has a higher aspect ratio than the Alpha so it might have been harder for roll control. It would have been good to compare.

If one were to design a glider specifically for this type of soaring, then a low aspect ratio, medium large surface area, high cambered airfoil, to get low sink rate with quick roll response but giving up L/D. Such a glider could be a lot of fun at the beach on a windy day. Perhaps a "flying plank" type profile in a flex wing. Poor for distance but great for ridge soaring, hovering, etc.

Frank

[wingspan33]

Looks like you guys had a GREAT! day (or two days?) at Dockweiler!

I wish I could have been there! . . . . . .

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